Summer Newsletter 2023
Moving abroad and going outside my creative comfort zone.
Hi friends,
Here I am in Cologne, Germany, writing you from a tiny room that was probably meant to be a closet but has become my office and studio. One of my cats is deep in slumber next to me and the other is in her happy place, stretched out under the sofa.
When the last newsletter went out in March, I was bracing myself for this huge, life-altering change, anxious about getting everything done and saying goodbye to my friends, family, routines, and home in Baltimore. Insomnia crept in as I stressed about bringing two cats on their first (and hopefully only) plane ride and the 14+ hour trip, and I wondered how my husband and I would adjust to living together in under 400 square feet (35m²).
Uprooting to a new country is not for the faint of heart: it is jarring and terrifying, no matter how much it’s something you want, and the pangs of homesickness are ever present. Small things, too, like having to go to a Turkish store to find black beans or paying for water at a restaurant, constantly remind me that everything — everything — has changed.
But we did it. We’re here. We’ve settled in, and we’re happy and thriving. (The cats, too, clearly.)
Here's what I've been thinking and writing about over the past few months:
Thresholds and liminal space have very much been a recurring theme these past two years. Recently, I wrote about the joy and pain of choosing a new life and saying goodbye to the old.
One of the last things I did before leaving the States was to hang this piece at Maryland Art Place’s 2023 Out of Order show. I named the painting Bittersweet Doorways in a nod to this tweet and Jonny Sun ‘s ability to capture beauty and sadness all at once. (During this transition, I’ve been thinking about his book Goodbye, Again a lot.)
I was honored to be a featured artist for this year’s Messy May, hosted by Caylee Grey of Get Messy Art. Here’s the recap and just some of the incredible art that came out of my prompt PLAY. Be sure to check out the video at the end of this letter, too!
Abstract art continues to intrigue and inspire me. This is why.
For ICAD this year, I stepped way outside of my creative comfort zone and created tiny mixed media portraits. Here’s my favorite!
After I finally set up my art desk, I started painting more. Then I jotted down some thoughts on having a dedicated creative space.
At the end of April, I finished another art journal. I haven’t been able to film it yet because I need to configure an overhead filming station — but I did find a vintage book of road maps to make the covers of a new one! Check out the latest pages here.
Thanks for reading and sharing this space with me. The next newsletter will go out the first day of fall but til then, you can find me at my blog or on Instagram.
Take care,
Ingrid
PS. If you're new — hi! Let me introduce myself.